Ramsey Flynn

In mid-August 2000 much of the world riveted its attention on the Barents Sea as reports came in of the sinking of the Russian submarine Kursk. How did this happen? Were there survivors? Ramsey Flynn, an award-winning magazine journalist, was so drawn in that he knew he had to write about it.

Some 75 days later, Flynn set foot in Russia for the first time in his life. Four more trips, some three and a half years, and more than 300 interviews later, he completed work for Cry from the Deep, a worthy addition to the English-language books that examine the tragedy.

Recently released in paperback, the book is an absorbing look at the calamity from both a personal and institutional perspective. The personal takes the reader not only aboard the Kursk and other military vessels but also into the lives and families of several of the 118 sailors who perished. The institutional looks at how the Russian leadership responded – or failed to respond – and how remnants of Cold War mentality contributed to delays in offers to help from NATO countries and acceptance of those offers.

Balance of review at http://prairieprogressive.com/?p=653… (mehr)